Container and closure therefor

ABSTRACT

A container and closure are provided. The closure has lip structure which snaps into a slot provided on the top of the container. A tab is provided with cam means on the underside thereof. Depression of the tab results in release of the closure from the container.

United States Patent I: I- 0 nun-nu-wur Whitehouse Dec. 23, 1975 CONTAINER AND CLOSURE THEREFOR 3,028,992 4/1962 Bucher et al. 222/182 x [76] Inventor: Harvey B. Whitehouse, 26050 Avondale, Inkster, Mich. 48141 Primary Examiner-George T. Hall Attorney, Agent, or FirmWhittemore, Hulbert 8L [22] Filed. Apr. 16, 1975 Belknap [21] Appl, No.: 568,662

57 ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. 220/281; 220/306; 222/182 1 [51] Int. Cl. B65D 43/04 A container and closure are provided. The closure has [58] Field of Search 220/281, 260, 262, 306; lip structure which snaps into a slot provided on the Z/182 top of the container. A tab is provided with cam means on the underside thereof. Depression of the tab References Cited results in release of the closure from the container.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 4 Cl 6 D F 2,980,299 4/1961 Smith 222/182 alms rawmg gums l lllll US. Patent Dec. 23, 1975 3,927,796

FICELl F'IG.2

llllll CONTAINER AND CLOSURE THEREFOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Numerous different kinds of pop-ofi closures have been provided for aerosol containers. One problem with such previous closure structures has been that upon actuation of the structure for releasing the closure from the container only a portion of the usual lip structure engaging a slot in the top of the container is released from the slot. Thereafter, it is required that the user pull the closure off the container. For example, one such closure structure is illustrated in US. Pat. No. 2,980,299. This patent illustrates moving an engaging lip of the closure only slightly above an annular slot provided in the top of the container. If the closure is pulled the wrong way after actuation of the release mechanism, it may relock and thus necessitate further actuation of the release mechanism.

In accordancewith the present invention, a release structure is provided for a closure which, when actuated, entirely frees all engaging lip structure from the container so that the closure is completely freed from the container without further action on the part of the user being necessary.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A container and closure therefor are provided. The container comprises a body having opening means at the top thereof. The top of the container includes an upper surface and an upper member spaced thereabove which together define a slot therebetween. The container has a downwardly and outwardly directed surface portion extending from the upper surface. A closure is received on the top of the container to cover the opening means. The closure has a lower edge portion. First and second diametrically opposed lips extend radially inwardly from the lower edge portion. A tab is provided. The tab is connected to the lower edge portion of the closure at substantially the location of the first lip by means of a flexible hinge member. The tab has a first cam portion on the underside thereof with a second cam portion contiguous therewith. The first cam portion contacts the downwardly and outwardly directed surface portion of the container adjacent the slot upon downward movement of the tab (assuming the container to be in a vertical position). The first cam portion has a configuration applying a generally upward force against the hinge member and lower edge portion of the closure to which the hinge is attached upon downward movement of the tab thereby resulting in upward movement of the lower edge portion of the closure and release of the first lip from the slot. The first cam portion is of a length whereby movement of the tab downwardly to a position where the first cam portion has entirely cammed over the surface of the container adjacent the slot results in the first lip being positioned above the upper member. The first cam portion, when in the latter position, is spaced from the upper member a distance at least equal to the width of 60 the second lip. The second cam portion contacts the surface of the container adjacent the slot upon further downward movement of the tab. The second cam portion has a configuration which applies a generally horizontal force against the hinge and lower edge portion of the closure to which the hinge is attached upon said further downward movement of the tab. This results in horizontal movement of the closure and release of the 2 second lip from the slot with resultant freeing of the closure from the container.

IN THE DRAWINGS:

FIG. 1 is a view of the upper portion of a container and closure therefor in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the closure;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the closure;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. I with the closure in section;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 illustrating first downward movement of the closure tab to release a portion of the closure from the container; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4 illustrating the closure completely freed from the container.

Referring to the figures, a conventional pressurized aerosol container 10 has a body 12 for storage of a material to be dispensed, such as food topping or the like. Opening means are provided at the top of the container 10. The opening means include a plastic sleeve member 14 which is secured to a discharge opening which also includes a valve (not shown). As is conventional, the sleeve 14 is pressed sidewardly by the user to open the valve structure and permit the material to be dispensed from the container.

The container 10 has a relatively flat upper surface 16 at the top thereof. A cylindrical wall portion 18 extends upwardly from surface 16. The wall portion 18 is bent downwardly to form an annular upper member 20 which is spaced from the surface 16. This spacing defines an annular slot 22. The container 10 has a downwardly and outwardly directed surface portion 24 which extends from the upper surface 16.

A closure 26 is received on the top of the container 10 to cover the opening means. When it is desired to dispense material from the container 10, the closure 26 is first removed and then the sleeve 14 deflected as previously described. The closure 26 is preferably fabricated of a relatively hard plastic material to make it springy and thereby assist in removal of the closure from the container. The structure of the closure in accordance with the present invention permits use of a wide range of hard plastic materials.

The closure 26 has a lower edge portion 28. First and second diametrically opposed lips 30, 32 extend radially inwardly from the lower edge portion 28. A manually actuatable tab 34 is provided for freeing the closure 26 from the container 10. The tab 34 is connected to the lower edge portion 28 of the closure 26 at substantially the location of the first lip 30 by means of a flexible hinge member 36. The hinge member is a relatively thin section plastic web.

The tab 34 has a cam structure on the underside thereof. As will be noted in FIG. 3, the cam structure comprises a pair of downwardly extending spaced apart cam elements 38, 40. The use of two cam elements results in positive cam action and prevents lateral twisting of the closure upon actuation of the cam elements. Such lateral twisting tends to tear the lips 30, 32 and impair release of the closure from the container.

Referring to FIG. 1, each of the cam elements has a first cam portion 42 and a second carn portion 44 contiguous therewith. The first cam portion 42 is substantially arcuate in shape. The second cam portion 44 is also curved but the curvature is much less pronounced than the curvature of the first cam portion 42. The first cam portion is designed to result in a general upward force on the closure for release. of the first lip 30 upon downward movement of the tab 34. The curvature of the second cam portion 44 is designed to result in a generally horizontal force against the closure upon further downward movement of the tab 34 after the first lip 30 has been released from the slot 22. Such a horizontal force component results in forcing the second lip 32 out of the slot 22 for complete release of the closure 26 from the container 10.

A plurality of elongated radially inwardly extending spaced apart ribs 46 are provided on the interior surface 48 of the closure 26. The ribs 46 rigidify the closure structure and thereby assist in translating the forces applied to the closure 26 when actuating tab 34 for removal of the closure from the container. The ribs 46 also have a secondary value in that they prevent sticking together of a plurality of closures 26 when the closures are nested together for storage purposes prior to being mounted on a container.

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 illustrate the action which occurs upon downward movement of tab 34 for. removal of the closure from the container 10. FIG. 4 shows the closure 26 mounted on the container 10 with the lips 30, 32 being engaged in the slot 22. The tab 34 is so located that the first cam portion 42 just touches the surface 24.

FIG. 5 illustrates removal of the first lip 30 from the slot 22. The tab 34 is pushed downwardly whereupon the first cam portion 42 acts against the surface 24 resulting in the application of a generally upward force against the hinge member 36 and lower edge portion 28 of the closure 26 to which the hinge member 36 is attached. This results in upward movement of the lower edge portion 28 and release of the first lip 30 from the slot 22. The first cam portion 42 is of a length whereby movement of the tab 34 downwardly to a position as shown in FIG. 5 where the first cam portion has entirely cammed over the surface 24 results in the first lip 30 being positioned above the upper member as shown.

The closure 26 may now be moved laterally to disengage the second lip 32 from the slot 22 and thereby free the closure from the container. After the tab 34 has been depressed downwardly to the position shown in FIG. 5, the first cam portion 42 is still spaced from the upper member 20 a distance at least equal to the width of the second lip 32 so that the cam elements can still be moved laterally towards the upper member 20 for release of the second lip 32.

Upon further downward movement of the tab 34, the second cam portion 44 slides over the surface 24 applying a generally horizontal force against the hinge member 36 and lower edge portion of the closure to which the hinge member is attached. This results in horizontal movement of the closure 26 and release of the second lip 32 from the slot 22 to free the closure from the container. Upon being freed from the container, the closure will snap up to the position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 6. It will actually fall off the container 10 if not held.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A container and closure therefore, said container comprising a bodyhaving opening means at the top thereof, said top of the container including an upper surface and an upper member spaced thereabove defining a slot therebetween, said container having a downwardly and outwardly directed surface portion extending from said upper surface, a closure received on the top of the container to cover said opening means, said closure having a lower edge portion, first and second diametrically opposed lips extending radially inwardly from said lower edge portion, a tab, a flexible hinge member connecting said tab to the lower edge portion of the closure at substantially the location of said first lip, said tab having a first cam portion on the underside thereof, a second cam portion contiguous with said first cam portion, said first cam portion contacting said downwardly and outwardly directed surface portion of the container adjacent said slot upon downward movement of the tab (assuming the container to be in a generally vertical position), said first cam portion having a configuration applying a generally upward force against the hinge member and lower edge portion of the closure to which the hinge is attached upon downward movement of the tab thereby resulting in upward movement of said lower edge portion of the closure and release of said first lip from the slot, said first cam portion being of a length whereby movement of the tab downwardly to a position where the first cam portion has entirely cammed over said surface of the container adjacent said slot results in said first lip being positioned above said upper member, said first cam portion, when in said latter position, being spaced from said upper member a distance at least equal to the width of said second lip, said second cam portion contacting the surface of the container adjacent said slot upon further downward movement of said tab, said second cam portion having a configuration applying a generally horizontal force against the hinge and lower edge portion of the closure to which the hinge is attached upon such further downward movement of said tab thereby resulting in horizontal movement of the closure and release of said second lip from the slot and freeing the closure from the container.

2. A containerand closure therefor as defined in claim 1, further characterized in the provision of a pair of spaced apart cam elements on the underside of said tab, each of said cam elements having first said first cam portion and said second cam portion contiguous with the first cam portion.

3. A container and closure therefor as defined in claim 1, further characterized in the provision of a plurality of radially inwardly, downwardly extending spaced apart rib structures on the interior surface of said closure.

4. A container and closure therefor as defined in claim 1, further characterized in that said first cam portion is substantially arcuate, said second cam portion having a slight curvature only. 

1. A container and closure therefore, said container comprising a body having opening means at the top thereof, said top of the container including an upper surface and an upper member spaced thereabove defining a slot therebetween, said container having a downwardly and outwardly directed surface portion extending from said upper surface, a closure received on the top of the container to cover said opening means, said closure having a lower edge portion, first and second diametrically opposed lips extending radially inwardly from said lower edge portion, a tab, a flexible hinge member connecting said tab to the lower edge portion of the closure at substantially the location of said first lip, said tab having a first cam portion on the underside thereof, a second cam portion contiguous with said first cam portion, said first cam portion contacting said downwardly and outwardly directed surface portion of the container adjacent said slot upon downward movement of the tab (assuming the container to be in a generally vertical position), said first cam portion having a configuration applying a generally upward force against the hinge member and lower edge portion of the closure to which the hinge is attached upon downward movement of the tab thereby resulting in upward movement of said lower edge portion of the closure and release of said first lip from the slot, said first cam portion being of a length wherebY movement of the tab downwardly to a position where the first cam portion has entirely cammed over said surface of the container adjacent said slot results in said first lip being positioned above said upper member, said first cam portion, when in said latter position, being spaced from said upper member a distance at least equal to the width of said second lip, said second cam portion contacting the surface of the container adjacent said slot upon further downward movement of said tab, said second cam portion having a configuration applying a generally horizontal force against the hinge and lower edge portion of the closure to which the hinge is attached upon such further downward movement of said tab thereby resulting in horizontal movement of the closure and release of said second lip from the slot and freeing the closure from the container.
 2. A container and closure therefor as defined in claim 1, further characterized in the provision of a pair of spaced apart cam elements on the underside of said tab, each of said cam elements having first said first cam portion and said second cam portion contiguous with the first cam portion.
 3. A container and closure therefor as defined in claim 1, further characterized in the provision of a plurality of radially inwardly, downwardly extending spaced apart rib structures on the interior surface of said closure.
 4. A container and closure therefor as defined in claim 1, further characterized in that said first cam portion is substantially arcuate, said second cam portion having a slight curvature only. 